Subaru Outback car camping: sleeping inside, space and gear
WildFinder SUV Tent
Under $250An SUV or tailgate tent attaches around the open hatch, adding a room to a Subaru Outback. Check the listing's fit notes against your exact model.
Check price on AmazonSpecsThe Outback is probably the most popular car camping car in America for a reason: a long, nearly flat cargo floor with the rear seats folded, standard roof rails with swing-in crossbars on many trims, and ground clearance for rough campground roads.
| Cargo behind row 2 | about 32.5 cu ft |
|---|---|
| Cargo with rear seats folded | about 75.7 cu ft |
| Couple's camping load | 18.7 cu ft packed: it fits, with 5 cu ft spare |
| Family of four load | 32.2 cu ft packed: over by about 8 cu ft |
Manufacturer-published figures for the 2020 to 2025 Subaru Outback, rounded; they vary by trim, moonroof and year, so check your manual. Load volumes are estimates from typical packed sizes, via the cargo calculator.
How do you set up a Subaru Outback for camping?
- The rear seat backs fold nearly flat; a 25 inch wide pad fits comfortably, two narrow pads side by side for a couple.
- Use the roof rails for a cargo box or car-side awning, within Subaru's stated roof load limit.
- Wilderness trims add more clearance, handy for dispersed sites.
SUV and tailgate tents for a Subaru Outback
WOLFWILL SUV Tailgate Tent with Awning Waterproof SUV Tents forUnder $100Check priceSpec sheet
Economical Car Camping TentUnder $100Check price
Napier Sportz CoveUnder $250Check price- WildFinder SUV TentUnder $250Check priceSpec sheet
TIMBER RIDGE 5-9 Person SUV Tent with Screen Porch and Awning forUnder $250Check priceSpec sheet
Napier Sportz SUV TentUnder $500Check priceSpec sheet
What should you sleep on in a Subaru Outback?
Measure the floor with the seats folded before buying anything. A thick self-inflating pad (3 to 4 inches) follows small slopes and steps in the folded seats better than an air mattress, and insulates the cold floor. SUV-specific air mattresses that fill the rear footwell suit people who want the widest bed and do not mind the pump. Either way, add a foam layer when nights drop below about 50F: the car floor is cold.
Pads and mattresses for the cargo floor
Screens, shades and comfort
Includes listings made for the Subaru Outback; confirm the model years on the listing.
Extra cargo space
A roof box needs crossbars and your vehicle's roof load limit; a hitch carrier needs a receiver.
Keep planning
Frequently asked questions
Can you sleep in a Subaru Outback?
Yes. Measure your own from the tailgate to the back of the front seats with them slid forward, then pick a pad or mattress about 2 inches shorter. Ventilate with two windows cracked behind mesh screens, and never idle a gas engine for heat while you sleep.
Will a family camping load fit in a Subaru Outback?
A family-of-four load of a 6-person tent, two coolers, four chairs, bags, pads, stove, table and duffels comes to about 32.2 cu ft packed. Subaru Outback usable cargo is about 24 cu ft by our estimate, so it runs about 8 cu ft over: a rooftop cargo box of 14 to 18 cu ft usually solves it.
What should you sleep on when camping in a Subaru Outback?
A 3 to 4 inch self-inflating pad per person, or an SUV air mattress that fills the rear footwell for the widest bed. The folded seat backs leave a small step and a slight slope, so a thick pad smooths it better than a thin one. Add a foam layer under the pad below about 50F, because the cargo floor is cold.
Can you put a tent on a Subaru Outback?
An SUV tailgate tent attaches around the open rear hatch and turns the cargo area into a bedroom with a standing room beside it; the Outback's hatch opening suits most universal SUV tents, so check the listing's fit notes. A rooftop tent needs crossbars rated for it and must stay inside Subaru's published roof load limit, which the owner's manual gives for your year and trim.
Is it safe to run the engine while sleeping in a Subaru Outback?
Do not idle a gas or diesel engine for heat or air conditioning while you sleep. Exhaust can leak into the cabin, and snow or a nearby wall can trap it, and carbon monoxide is odourless. Use insulation, a warm bag and a pad for cold, and a battery fan and window screens for heat. Carry a battery carbon monoxide detector either way.
Get the car camping checklist
One printable page: the full packing checklist plus our three complete setups with budget ranges.
After the list, a few short emails, then a couple a month at most. Unsubscribe anytime. You can also read every setup free on this site.Researched guidance, not professional advice. Figures are published specifications or clearly labelled conventions; check your own gear's manual and your campground's rules.
